Coalition of Oak Ridge Retired Employees
Minutes of Board Meeting on July 15, 2015, 10:00 a.m., Oak Ridge Senior Center
Present: Peterson, Kibbe, Reichle, Mason, McGrory, Cates, Bradshaw, Rogers, Moore, Morrow, Whitley, Setaro, Worrell, Toedte, Emory, White.
Absent: Joy Angelelli, Tony Angelelli, Hightower, Stow, Rupert, Whitehead.
Guests: Luther Gibson.
1. Call to Order. President Hightower called the meeting to order at 10:00 am.
2. Approval of the June 2015 Minutes. June minutes were approved as is.
3. Treasurer’s Report. Mary Jane White sent in treasurer’s report. Balance is $22,344.94. Report was approved. White advised that two CDs are coming due in August totaling in excess of $10K. A discussion about rates and terms ensued regarding future investment options. White will look into rates and present at next meeting.
4. Contractor Contacts.
UCOR: Pete Peterson, Dwight Morrow, Dave Whitehead
– UCOR meeting with CORRE. Peterson, Morrow, and Whitehead attended. United Health Care made the presentation.
– Subsidy is still not known.
– Educational package is expected to be out July 27. Approval is still not released by DOE.
NSPS: Nothing to report.
ORNL: Emery
– Emery reported that Pre-65 retiree medical plans will change in 2016. All the legacy plans are being combined into one plan with much lower premiums. Costs of coverage will drop but co-pays will increase somewhat. The new plan will also be open access (i.e., no referral required). ORNL plans to announce the changes in a couple of weeks and will schedule town hall meetings to discuss the changes. The new plan will be administered by United Health Care (current plan is administered by Cigna).
– Kibbe intends to submit something on the proposed changes to be printed in the ORNL Reporter provided that the publication date is timely.
– Mason suggested that CORRE keep track of changes in medical plans across multiple contractors for comparison purposes.
Y-12 (CNS): Whitley, Mason, Worrell
– Whitley reported Pantex looking to extend medical plan contact due to level of satisfaction. CNS returned a proposed medical plan and seems to have some interest in reducing benefits for pre-65 and active employees.
– Mason and Worrell reported that CNS agreed to assist in the preparation of the survey for mailing.
5. Committee Reports.
Communications: No report
Website: Ross Toedte
– Toedte asked for someone to verify legislative contacts. McGrory agreed to do so.
– Mason will look into status of strategic plan.
– Jim Rogers will provide emails and phone numbers for current board members to be posted online.
Planning: Nothing to report
Nominations: Jim Rogers
– 4 board positions are open. Some interested candidates have been found. Seeking others.
– Future committee meeting to be announced by Rogers.
– Discussion about where/how/when to advertise nominations.
Annual Meeting: Shirley Cates
– Will provide lists of legislative and contractor dignitaries to Bob H.
6. Other business.
CNS Benefits Survey: Dave Mason
– Mason will send survey, with addition of cover letter, to board for final approval. Board unanimously agreed to add cover letter (previously distributed to board) to survey.
– Mason solicited help on tabulating results. Toedte offered to help.
7. New business.
– McGrory discussed letter from Savannah River Site retiree group. Their congressional representative is proposing a bill to increase pay. Reichle suggested following up on this – seeking support of the bill from our representatives. Also, Dave suggested reinstituting the CORRE congressional committee. Peterson will follow up with President Bob.
8. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 am.